September 19, 2008

Wow. Hysteria? I remember when feminists would rip into you for attributing "hysteria" to a woman. It was a per se sexist term. Now, a woman who fancies herself a feminist applies the word to every woman she knows and the condition is caused by the elevation of a particular woman to a high position.

The quote is from Josh Gerstein's piece in the New York Sun about women who are freaking out about Sarah Palin.

"I think a lot of women felt insulted by the idea you could just take any woman," a longtime editor of women's magazines, Bonnie Fuller, told The New York Sun. "A lot of women feel it was a very cynical decision. ... What got some women's backs up was the idea she didn't earn her stripes."

Well, of course, Palin didn't have a husband elected President, and then run for Senate and win on his coattails. That's how you do it.

There are two women I will likely not speak to for at least the rest of the year. One, who abandoned her half Kenyan child, said that Palin needed to stay home and take care of her children. Right - makes perfect sense coming from someone who couldn't be bothered to raise her own son.

The other - well, she is probably just hysterical, and Palin's nomination sent her into a massive hissy fit. So long - won't miss you at all.

The word itself derives from “hystera,” Greek for uterus, and ancient doctors attributed a number of female maladies to a starved or misplaced womb.Unofficially, a host of inoffensive synonyms for “hysterical” have appeared: functional, nonorganic, psychogenic, medically unexplained.

That's your NYT speaking- feminists and postmodernists all.

AA- How's that home delivery special working out?

Wikipedia details some treatments that will interest my fellow amateur gynecologists. I shoulda been a real doctor.

I keep waiting for Madeline Albright to come to Sarah Palin's defense. After all, the quote from Albright on my Starbucks cup says, "There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women."

I get "hysterical" when it's used to describe emotional traits that are attributed only to women. That was almost always accompanied by the idea that she just needed to "settle down" and have babies and everything would be just fine.

I'm old enough to have heard variations on that.

How often do you hear about men being hysterical? Usually only if they are a comedian by trade.

The word is losing some of its offensiveness, but this article... wow.

When we were waiting to enter, I was in front of two women who were holding "Hillary Supporters 4 Obama signs". I saw many many signs today, but they were the only Hillary signs I could spot, and believe me my eyes were peeled for them.

As I stood there, someone referenced Sarah Palin to them, and my God, the reaction was Sandra Bernhardt-like:

"I HATE THAT BITCH!""I CAN'T STAND HER!""WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS!"

Just like that. No coherent thought-process, just a need to throw out venom from their mouths in as fast a stream as possible about Palin.

It was really scary to see what I have noticed in liberal blogs, right there in living colour.

I'm thankful to you guys for telling me to go. I'm happy I did. But wow. I feel for Palin, and am glad she said last night she has thick-skin.

When hatred overcomes a Party this fully, due to the frustration of 8 years with a man they hate, and the scare of maybe another 8 with a woman they already loathe, I fear for the collective sanity of the people who tout peace and understanding above all.

Because from what I saw, it's a charade. A Potemkin Village of pretend harmony. Scratch below the surface, and all you see is ugliness.

Thank God, I know there are millions of people who will reject that in future. Because they MUST. Their Party is headed towards implosion if not.

"There are two women I will likely not speak to for at least the rest of the year. One, who abandoned her half Kenyan child, said that Palin needed to stay home and take care of her children. Right - makes perfect sense coming from someone who couldn't be bothered to raise her own son."

Sure, I've met Tad Foote, Caro. Went to his house for the annual BBQ, as I'm sure you did too. :)

I heard he tried to make Univ of Miami the "Oxford of the South". Now, I love UM, but I'm sure you'll agree, there is no chance of that any time soon. ;)

-- For those who may not know, he's the son-in-law of Senator Fulbright of Arkansas (yes, THAT Fulbright) and as you can imagine, a big Clinton supporter. Shalala just received the Medal of Freedom from President Bush this summer. She and Bob Dole were in charge of overseeing the VA Commission. She doesn't seem like an Obama supporter, and in fact, held herself a little back at the rally today. --

We sold our Governor a pair of red Double Dare Naughty Monkey shoes a couple of weeks ago,"

I can't in a kajillion months of Sundays imagine even a young Hillary Clinton wearing red Double Dare Naughty Monkey shoes.

Palin is not afraid to be feminine, and somehow this is a red flag for the women who hate her.

You'll note also that those who have come out the most strongly against her, like Bernhardt and Cho, are ambiguous sexually.

The other ones just seem to be incredibly offended there is a woman like Palin around, who is off the reservation in every imaginable way.

I also believe she unconsciously triggers Martha Stewart syndrome in these women, where They feel that having a SuperMom woman like her, who has her act together, contrasts badly to their own shambolic lives.

She's really threatening to some women, through no fault of her own. I mean, she's doing what a feminist SHOULD do -- be successful on her own terms, not society's.

I see McCain bumper stickers -- not as many as Obama, of course. It's still too early for yard signs -- I think there's a law that prohibits them until a month before the election, or something like that.

One of the challenges McCain supporters face in this town is that the Wisconsin Republican Party contains a sizeable element that is very hostile to Gays. Just about everyone in Madison knows at least one or two Gay couples. Why support a Republican party that considers your friends to be second-class citizens?

Similarly, the State Republican Party also contains some notable anti-UW people in the Legislature. Again, hard to show support of that Republican party when you work at a World-Class institution like the UW that some Republicans are constantly trying to tear down. Indeed, they make their political fortune on it.

I think there's a law that prohibits them until a month before the election, or something like that.

No way, seriously? Not down here in SoFla, at least. Or is it that you live in a very toney neighbourhood?

Coral Gables, the Mayfair or Park Avenue of Miami, is like that. I believe there is an ordinance on the books that if your garage door is open for more than 87 seconds, your neighbours can call the cops on you.

And they do.

But that's because they are excessively image conscious. It doesn't happen anywhere else.

What got some women's backs up was the idea she didn't earn her stripes. It's been so hard for so many women to get ahead both in business and in the political worlds and she just seemingly slips in."

I love these poltroons; she didn't earn her stripes. It is a joke. The woman has virtually worked her butt off her whole life. What, she did not go to protest marches or [insert here] ins?

What dues did Hillary pay, aside from standing by a serail lothario? She was handed her senate seat when Giulliani had to drop out. If women should be angry, they should be angry at her. Oh, I forgot, she advocates and espouses. There is the cred.

Palin paid her dues and earned her stripes. Obama could have picked any of several qualified women- governors, senators, mayors, congressmen; instead he picked Mr. Bland. Obama could have shown his advocacy to women instead of lip service. He failed the test.

Palin paid her dues and earned her stripes. Obama could have picked any of several qualified women- governors, senators, mayors, congressmen; instead he picked Mr. Bland. Obama could have shown his advocacy to women instead of lip service. He failed the test.

He referenced Michelle and his grandmother as "strong women" in his speech today.

But then he had to go back and mention "lipstick and pigs" thing.

That floored me. I actually gasped out loud. I think that gave me away...

Two days later, Dombrowski awoke to find his Obama sign ripped to pieces, which he deems "a real infringement on democracy."

I actually agree with that. That law is too restrictive.

In the UK, after Parliament is dissolved by the Queen after the PM's calls for general election, since it's traditionally only 4 weeks from that date, you don't get much in the way of signage and campaigning.

That's a little like Madison, I suppose. Perhaps it's seen as more civilised (understated, less rancourous), in the British sense.

Baron, I did not speak to a dead woman. But I shall not divulge more information, other than to say that I have known this woman and her son for over a decade. I wish her well, but she has some serious issues that she refuses to engage constructively.

The other woman has worked in the school system all of her life. Slopped at the public trough. Never had to earn a profit or account for money. Total socialist - if the state doesn't control it, it can't be good.

Maybe I won't speak to them ever again. Not a bad outcome, all in all.

The person I really feel sorry for is Beth. A terrible disaster is about to hit her beloved NOLA. A catastrophe of monumental proportions. A tragedy of epic scope. It will drive everyone to despair. Make grown men weep. Have families climb up to the roof and beseech God for deliverance. Hurricane Shockey will soon be ravaging the city.

So let me reiterate that it is Monona, a cheesy non-city city that exists solely to drive through on your way to someplace else, that bans the signs. Madison only controls them

I have a corner lot in Monona! They won't bother you if you don't have more than one sign up. My concern is people speeding with so many little ones around so I have "Slow Down" signs on both sides of my lot.

You know, that's a very good price for a pair of well made women's shoes.

That proves beyond doubt this woman can straighten out our national finances.

I had a girlfriend who kept all her shoes in their original boxes. Stacked by the dozen in her closet. When she dressed, she knew the shoe by the design printed on the box. She was a tad neurotic and we didn't last. She forced me to shop with her at boutiques on Larimer St., carefully explaining what to look for in styling and craftsmanship . I think she was using me to justify paying a couple of hundred dollars for a tiny pair of shoes with hardly any material to speak of and very little leather. I didn't understand anything she bought. She also paid a small fortune for bags.

I gave up trying to pick out things for her like jewelry. Her reasons for rejecting and her choices were inconsistent illogical and ultimately indecipherable.

To keep things on topic, I can add she was also given to hysterics. Suddenly, without warning, a perfectly reasonable conversation would become unbelievably shrill. This caused discomfort to my generally reliable gentle good nature.

This reminds me: On the way out of the building I work in, on Thursday, there was a man wearing those glove shoes, the ones with individual toe holders that the Professor was going to buy. (Or did she buy them?) He said they were very comfortable to run in, but MAN they looked very very odd.

Merrill: Morgan, this crop stuff is just about a bunch of nerds who never had a girlfriend their whole lives. They're like thirty now. They make up secret codes and analyze Greek mythology and make secret societies where other guys who never had girlfriends can join in. They do stupid crap like this to feel special. It's a scam. Nerds were doin' it twenty five years ago and new nerds are doing it again. Graham Hess: Its just static, Morgan. Frequency. [Weird noises come from the baby monitor] Morgan: It's a code. Bo: Why can't they get girlfriends? (Signs, 2002)

Explains that lifelong burning passion for a storied franchise unmatched in pro sports that no outsider will ever feel or be a part of? A town with so many titles they just give it that name? The trophy everybody plays for that is named after one of the franchise's coaches? Is that what you meant? :)

Just not all that well otherwise why would Leonardo dump her bony ass and she had to settle for bozo from beantown.

Uh, Trooper, I hate to break it to ya, and I'm saying this to you as a Dolphins fan who has suffered through years of thrashings at the hands of that bastard #12, but hear this:

Giselle's bony ass will be parked in a huge Great Room filled with several Super Bowl Trophies and lots of healthy Nordic offspring running around long after Leonardo has become the Next William Shatner.

Tragic man, tragic.

Dude, you'll know I'm right when you read about DeCaprio doing an undercard act in Vegas at the MGM in a few years. He'll be the warmup act for Wayne Newton's Last Comeback.

Feminism is like a tired old woman who is hunched over carrying around a big sack of all the things that have affected her as she trudges through her miserable life. And when people ask her, "Hey Feminism, why are you letting that large bit of baggage hold you down? Let it go, stand up straight, free yourself from the self-imposed burden you've been carrying." and all she can say is, "Well, I've carried it around this long, I might as well carry it some more. Yeah, it's heavy, it's a burden, and it really hasn't done me any good, but what else do I have to look forward too? It's all I have left."

I love a feisty broad who gives you shit right back. A lesson for you liberal pussies who wouldn't know a joke if it bit you on the ass.

Of course I am a Yankee Fan sweetie. We had a transitional year this year. And a lot of injuries. But that's not an excuse. Tampa won fair and square and we will retool and come back stronger than ever next year. I will put the Yankees history up against any other team in the history of sports. The only two teams that are within shouting distance are your Celtics and Manchester United.

Now baby, don't tell me you root for the Mets, Jets, Nets and the Democrats. That's more suffering than any one should ever have to endure. Come over to the dark side. Win a championship once in a while. You will be glad you did.

Garage, the only reason Green bay ever won anything is that Pete Rozelle had some photos of Wellington Mara in a three way with Totie Fields and Angie Dickerson and forced him to let Lombardi go to the Packers and Landry go to the Cowboys. He had to do it for competitive balance.

Rozelle was one tough bastard. At least he didn't drown Wellington like he did Carroll Rosenblum.

Apparently none of you had the 'honor' of attempting to assist Shalala and her then-gf with purchasing skis in Madison. My husband had that honor, and she was a complete bitch to him. All he did was say 'hello, how can I help you?'.